Rose hasn't played since tearing his left ACL on April 28, 2012. He underwent surgery on May 12. He hasn't shut the door on returning and has maintained he would be willing to make his debut during the postseason, but a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson that the decision to allow him to return would have to be cleared by Bulls management, including chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

"Our stance has been really consistent since the first day with Derrick," Bulls general manager Gar Forman said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000. "What we've said and what Derrick has said has been, first of all we're going to be very conservative with his rehab. And second of all, in being conservative, when he's ready to play basketball, 100 percent ready to play basketball, that he would play. We're not at that point yet. He continues to make progress and he continues to do well."

Deng spoke to the media Thursday for the first time since undergoing a spinal tap to test for spinal meningitis. He has been in and out of the hospital and said he's lost about 15 pounds due to the flu and complications from the spinal tap. He admitted he was scared about his initial illness and acknowledged he isn't sure if or when he will be able to return.

"It's hard, man," Deng said of having to sit out. "We've had a long season. I've played with a lot of injuries. I've went through the wrist [injury] with torn ligaments. I had a fractured thumb, I played with it. I just went through all that to be able to play. I just didn't think something besides an injury would keep me out, and that's what makes it really hard. I don't know what you can do."

When asked how weak he feels, Deng replied: "Very. It's really my first day out of the house and out of the hospital. I haven't really left my bed much or done much."

Forman is encouraged by the small steps Deng has taken, but acknowledges there is a lot of uncertainty around Deng's status for the rest of the series.

"He's certainly not ready to play NBA basketball today but it is encouraging now that he's taken a lot of fluids, eats some, so we'll continue to monitor it, our doctors, our medical staff the next couple of days," Forman said. "There's always hope that he could come back and help us in some way but who knows after an ordeal like that how quickly he'll be able to recover."

Hinrich underwent a second MRI on his bruised left calf Thursday.

"It basically showed the same as the initial one," Thibodeau said. "It improved some, but he's got to keep working at it.

"He's in a holding pattern. He did a little bit more on the bike, a little bit better [Friday], but he still has a ways to go."

Asked if Hinrich would likely miss the rest of the series, Forman said: "That would probably be my guess but he's made progress with it but he's nowhere near ready to play. He can't push off, can't cut, can't jump. At this point he's doing rehab around the clock. He is getting better. I wouldn't want to say there's no way he'll play but as of (Friday) he's certainly not ready."